"/^-^-K-^ 




TROY FOR FIFTY YEARS. 



MR. BUEL'S LECTURE 



BEFORE 



THE mm MEN'S ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY OF TROY, 

DECEMBER 21, 1840. 



i 




Glass. 
Book. 



TROY FOR FIFTY YEARS: 
A LECTURE, 

DELIVERED BEFORE 

THE YOU.\G 1IE.?S ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY OF TROY, 

On the 21st December, 1840. 
BY DAVID BUEL, Jun. 

Published at the request of the Executive Committee of the Association. 



5 TROY, N. Y.: V^^^- 




'A? 



N. TUTTLE, TRINTKR, CCXXV. RIVER-STit T. 

1841. 










Rooms of the Troy Yottn'g Men's Associatio.n, ) 
December 24, 1S4U. j 

Dear Sir : 
At a meeting of the Executive Committee last evening, it was unanimously 
" Resolved, That the Committee on Lectures tender the thanks of tlie Associa- 
tion to David Bijel, Jun., Esq., for the able and highly interesting Lecture delivered 
by him before the Association, on the evening of Monday, the 21sl inst., and 
request a copy for publication." 

The undersigned, believing that the Address, which was listened to with so 
much gratilication, may prove interesting and instructive m perusal, would feel 
greatly obliged by your compliance with this request. 
Your obedient servants, 

CHARLES H. READ, 

JACOB L. VAN SCHOONHOVEN, . „ 

ff (Jommittee 
ABRAM B. OLIN, 

URI GILBERT, } °"' 

BENJAMIN STARBUCK, \ Lectures. 

GEORGE WILLIAM WRIGHT, 
To David Bitel, Jun., Esq., Troy. 



Troy, I)ecemler2S, 1840. 
Gentlemen : 

Your note of the 2 1th instant, containing a resolution of the Executive Committee 
of the Young Men's As.sociation, recpiesting for publication a copy of the Lecture 
delivered by me before the Association, on the evening of the 21st inst., was duly 
received. Although the Lecture was prepared without any expectation on my 
part that its publication would be called for, I shall feel it to be my duty to comply 
with the request of the Committee, by furnishing a copy to be at their disposal. 
I remain with much esteem. 

Your obedient servant, 

DAVID BUEL, Jun. 
Messrs. C. II. Read and others, Committee, &c. 



TROY FOR FIFTY YEARS. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Association : 

It seems to be an instinct of our nature to look 
back upon the scenes of our earlier life, and retrace 
the steps by which our bodies and minds have ad- 
vanced to maturity, from the period of infancy and 
childhood. A kindred feeling leads us very natural- 
ly to trace from their small beginnings, the places in 
which our lot has been cast. Our country furnishes 
more instances than any other of towns and cities 
springing into existence, and attaining great import- 
ance within the generation of their founders. Our 
highest antiquity in this great Republic, reaches back 
but little more than two centuries. The cities which 
can claim even that relative antiquity, are very few. 
Among the number, is the neighboring city of Albany. 
History informs us, "that (perhaps) in 1614 the first 
rude fort was erected (probably) on the southern 
point of Manhattan Island," and " that in the next 
year (1615) the settlement at Albany began on an 
island just below the present city." There is some 
reason to believe that the beautiful plateau which 
now forms the site of our own city, was explored 
in 1609 by the great Navigator, who, first of Europe- 
ans, discovered the noble River whose silvery stream 



6 

will waft his name to unborn ao^es. We learn from 
the authentic records of his voyage, that Hudson 
" went sounding his way above the Highlands, till at 
last the Crescent, (the ship in which he made his 
voyage), had sailed some miles beyond the city of 
Hudson, and a boat had advanced a little beyond 
Albany." This boat probably ascended to the rapids 
which commenced at the northerly bounds of this 
city, where ordinary tides spent their force and the 
navigation was interrupted. For above a century 
after Hudson's memorable voyage, the territory now 
embracing the site of the city, probably formed part 
of the hunting grounds of the Mohawk Indians. 

In the year 1720, a grant of 490 acres, extending 
along the Hudson from the Poestenkill to Meadow 
Creek, and comprehending the original allotments of 
the city, was made in fee by the proprietor of the 
Manor of Rensselaerwyck to Derick Van Derheyden 
at the annual rent of three bushels and three pecks of 
wheat and four fat fowls. This plain and the first 
range of hills were possessed by the grantee and his 
decendants, and some small portions of it cultivated as 
a farm. Mr. Elijah Adams, a venerable citizen now 
78 years old, has resided in the immediate vicinity 
since he was 17 years old. When he first knew the 
Van Derheyden lands, there were strips or patches 
within the present site of the city, known as the 
corn grounds of the Indians. Some years after Mr. 
Adams came here to reside, a full grown bear swam 
across the Hudson, landed near the Upper Ferry ; 
and being pursued ran among the oaks with which 



the plain was covered, and ascended a pine tree near 
tlie biiildino- now occupied as the Rensselaer Institute, 
from which he wns Lrought down by Mr. Adams' 
rifle. It does not appear that this spot had attracted 
much attention until three or four years after the 
termination of the Revolutionary War, when one or 
two individuals from the Eastern States, observing 
its favorable situation, persuaded the Dutch proprie- 
tors of the soil to lay out a portion of their lands into 
town lots. When the hrst surveys were made, the 
place was not known by any fixed name. A letter 
written by one of the earliest adventurers* in the 
fall of 178G, is dated at "Ferry Hook." Several let- 
ters written by the same person between the months 
of April and September, in the year 1787, are dated 
at " Rensselaerwyck," a town which embraced one 
third of the whole county. In the fall of 1787, the 
name " Van Derheyden," as a designation of the 
embryo village, began to be used by the settlers ; 
and that name is found in the leases of lots granted 
at that period. 

Lansinoburoh was then a villaoe of considerable 
size and commercial importance. In Carey's edition 
of Guthrie's Geography, published in 1795, it was 
noticed in the followino- terms : " Lansinoburoh, for- 
merly called the " New City," stands on the East side 
of the Hudson, nine miles north of Albany. It is a very 
flourishing place, pleasantly situated on a plain at the 
foot of a hill." At that period, Troy had not been 
noticed by our geographers. The circumstances in 

* Mr. Bcnjiiniin CovcU. 



which Troy was placed at its beginning, seemed not 
propitious to its growth. But a few miles below was 
the ancient city of Albany, which for several genera- 
tions had been the mart of trade for the entire region 
around us. Above, within half the distance, was the 
" New City," already a thrifty village, settled by men 
of enterprise. Hitherto towns most favorably situa- 
ted had had a tardy growth. 

At the period when the settlement of Troy com- 
menced, the population of Albany probably did not 
amount to 4000 ; although it had been incorporated 
as a city more than a century. But the establish- 
ment of our Federal Government in 1789, gave a 
new impulse to the country. The spirit of enter- 
prise spread rapidly over our land. The "New State," 
as Vermont was then called, was speedily occupied 
by immigrants from the older Eastern States. The 
enterprising sons of New England, sagacious to dis- 
cover, and prompt to occupy positions which promis- 
ed commercial advantages, readily saw that a town 
established at the head of natural, ordinary naviga- 
tion on the banks of the Hudson, would, after some 
struggle, outstrip the " New City," which had been 
improvidently located above the rapids. Nor did 
those sagacious men believe that a town so favorably 
situated at the distance of six miles from Albany, 
would be wholly overshadowed by that ancient city. 
The earliest surveys and allotments were made be- 
tween the years 1786 and 1790. The middle allot- 
ment, of which Mr. Jacob D. Van Derheyden, (known 
in his life time as the Patroon of Troy), was the pro- 



prietor, comprehended the territory between Divi- 
sion and Grand Division-streets. The southerly 
allotment, of which jMatthise Vnn Derheyden was the 
pr()[)rietor, extended lloni .1 )ivision-strcct to the Poes- 
tenkill. The nortlicrly allotment, of whicli Jncob I. 
\an Derheyden was proprietor, was north of" Grand 
Division-street. The farm honse of the Patroon was 
on ground now occupied by the National Hotel, 
corner of Iviver jmd Ferry-streets. That of Matthise 
still stands at the corntn- of lliver and Division- 
streets — but its Gothic roof and other characteristics 
of its Dutch orioinal, have been made to give place 
to more modem forms. The adventurers, who had 
pcrsuadcnl the (juict occupants of the Van Derhey- 
den farm houses to lay out part of their farms into 
village lots, erected one or two slight buildings in the 
year 1786. The earliest settler was JMr. Ste2>hen 
Ashley, who came here shortly after the close of the 
Revolutionary War, and kept a tavern for t^v"o 
or three years in the farm house of Matthise Van 
Derheyden. 

No dwelling house was erected by immigrants 
before the year 1787. In the month of August of 
that year, Dr. Sanniol Gak% tlic elder, inmiigrated 
from Guilford, Connecticut, with his family, with the 
intention of settlino- at Lansinoburoh ; but owino- to 
the (bfficulty of obtaining a dwelling house there, he 
stopped at the late Jacob D. Van Derheyden's, and 
determined to make this tlic^ place of his residence. 
He soon set about the erection of a dwellino- house 
and store a little south of the Upper Ferry — which 



10 

were completed in the following season. He was for 
several years the principal physician, and a promi- 
nent man in the enterprise of bnilding up the new 
villaoe. 

An intelligent and respectable citizen, who immi- 
grated to this place in the spring of 1789, states that 
at that time, five small stores and about a dozep 
dwelling houses had been erected. The appellation 
of Van Derheyden was in the latter part of the year, 
(1789) changed for a more classic name. Its exist- 
ence as a village may be properly dated from the 
year 1790: since which, a period of fifty years has 
recently elapsed. In the brief review which I shall 
take of the progress oi Troy, I propose to divide 
the whole time of its existence into j)eriods of ten 
years each. The first of which will extend from 
the year 1790 to 1800. This was a time of deep 
interest and intense effort for the settlers. 

At the commencement of the decade, they were 
very few in number, and possessed but little sub- 
stance; but they were men of courage and activity. 
Among the first settlers, who subsequently distin- 
guished themselves by their enterprise, may be men- 
tioned Messrs. Stephen Ashley, Benjamin Co veil, 
Samuel Gale, E})hraim Morgan, John Boardman, 
Benjamin Smith, Philip Heartt, Anthony Goodspeed, 
Mahlon Taylor, Ebenezer Wilson, and Sanuiel Wil- 
son. These pioneers and their early associates, were 
compelled to embark in a struggle with the then 
formidable "New City," which was sustained with 
great spirit, but at first with doubtful success. Before 



11 

Troy liad a name, that villaoc had nttnined consider- 
able size, and had become the usual mart of trade 
for a considerable section of the "New State" and 
the eastern towns of this county. A respectable and 
enterprising population, possessed of considerable 
capital, were there collected. The attempt to build 
up a rival village at Van Derheyden's Icrry, had a 
little of temerity in its appearance ; but the adven- 
turers, though few in numbers, had explored their 
ground. They were men of shrewd minds. They 
saw that water power here abounded — and that the 
River navigation to this point was easy. They 
judged that with its natural advantages, their enter- 
prise could not fail. Shortly after the commence- 
ment of their settlement, an event occurred which 
was favorable to its success. 

In 1791, this county was detached from Albany. 
The question, where the public buildings of the new 
county should be erected, was agitated with great 
warmth. In this early contest, Troy prevailed. 
The first court house was erected here in 1793, and 
the first jail in the following year. The influential 
men among the early settlers were supporters of the 
institutions of religion. While yet too few iii num- 
l)er, to erect a tem[)l(^ devoted to public -woi'ship, 
or to secure the ministrations of a clergyman, tliey 
were accustomed to assemble, at first in a store and 
subsequently in a school house, on the Sabbath, at 
the sound of a conkshell, and listen to sermons read 
by the elder Dr. Gale, or the late Col. Pawling. The 
last mentioned gentleman, after having served his 



12 

country in the Rc\'olutionai"y War vrith such fidehty 
as to have secured the approbation of Washington, 
immigrated from Esopus with CoL TenEyck, another 
Revohitionary patriot. These gentlemen went at 
first to the " New City," but soon removed to Troy 
and enrolled themselves with the early settlers. In 
1791, by the united effort of the inhabitants, yet too 
few to gratify their denominational predilections, the 
frame of a house for public worship w^as erected. 
In the following year, (179:2), the building was en- 
closed and was soon occupied for worship, although 
in an unfinished state. This building became the 
first edifice of the Presbyterian congregation. It 
was enlarged about twenty-five years after its erec- 
tion- — and a large part of my audience w^ell remem- 
ber its appearance and situation^ in the centre of 
our now beautiful Park, opposite the Court House. 
During the entire period of the first decade, and 
about half of the second, this was the only edifice 
erected for the purpose of public worship. The 
pastoral services of the venerable Dr. Coe, during the 
period which I am now reviewing, were equally 
divided between Troy and Lansingburgh ; his resi- 
dence beino- in the latter villaoe. 

The trade of Troy, during the period under 
review, was greatly sustained by the purchase, storing 
and shipment of grain. Wheat "\vas then a staple 
article of produce of the country on both sides of 
the Hudson, the valley of the Mohawk, the shores of 
Lake Champlain, and of the whole region wliich 
tbuiid its market on the Hudson. Tlie first settlers 



13 

constructed their store-houses for the reception ol" 
grain, fronting on River-street extending towards the 
river, wlili spacious lotts, so that the hags of wheat 
brought in wagons and sleighs couhl be hoisted by 
tackles and placed upon the scales, and when weigh- 
ed deposited in the bins. From the store-houses it 
Avas conveyed by spouts on board the vessels. By 
this means cartage was saved. 

The numerous water privileges in the vicinity 
soon began to be occupied. The enterprising Mahlon 
Taylor erected at an early period, a flouring mill of 
spacious dimensions, for that day, on the Poestenkill. 
Within a short time afterwards, another was erected 
by the late JMoses Vail, near Ida falls — and a third 
by JMr. Witbeck, near the mouth of the Wynants- 
kill. Thus the foundation was laid for carrying on 
a branch of business, which has ever since formed 
an important item in the commerce of Troy. 

As Troy united advantages for the reception, 
transportation and manufacture of grain, greater 
than w^ere possessed by Albany or Lansingburoh, it 
early took the lead in those branches. Troy, from 
its commencement, engaged also in the lumber trade, 
in which it has ever since largely participated. 
During the period under consideration, pot and 
pearl ashes were brought here in large quantities, 
from Vermont and the northern counties of this 
state. Butter and cheese have always constituted 
a considerable item of the business of Troy. The 
first newspaper was printed by Luther Pratt, in 
1796 ; it Wcis called the Farmer's Oracle. It was 



14 

not continued long. After some interval, the North- 
ern Budget was established by Robert Moffit, in the 
year 1798, and has continued ever since, with a 
slight variation in the name. I anticipate what in 
strict chronolooical order belongs to the second 
decade, in noticing two more of the earlier newspaper 
establishments : The Troy Gazette, which was estab- 
lished by Thomas Collier in 1802, and the Farmers 
Register, by Francis xA-dancourt, in 1807. During 
this first decade, a respectable number of frame 
stores of pretty large dimensions, but constructed 
without much regard to taste, were erected at inter- 
vals along the westerly side of River-street, princi- 
pally between Ferry and Albany-streets. The dwel- 
lings were mostly of small size, and slightly built. 
The first brick dwelling house was erected by James 
Spencer, in the year 1795, on the triangular space 
included between River, Second and Albany-streets, 
and which, in the original plan of the city, was laid 
out into building lots. The block of ill-shaped 
buildings erected upon it, was removed above twenty 
years ago, under the authority of a special act of the 
Legislature, and the area converted into a public 
place, since called, with some departure from mathe- 
matical precision, Washington Square. In the year 
1796, four brick dwelling houses were erected, which 
are still standing, viz.. No. 31 First-street, Nos. 20 
and 22 Second-street, and the building on the corner 
of River and Washington-streets. Several brick 
dwelling houses were erected in the three following- 
years, but it is believed that no brick store was built 



15 

during the last century. The commerce of" Troy 
during the period under review, partook more of the 
barter kind than it has since done. The capital 
embarked in trade was small ; no Bank had been 
established, and much of the produce brought to 
market was received in store to be shipped to New 
York, and sold for the account of the owners. But 
the character of the first race of business men, sup- 
plied to some extent the want of capital. Their 
unbending integrity and untiring industry, early 
gained for the business men of Troy, a reputation 
which established their credit on an enduring basis. 
Their habits of business and economy, inspired con- 
fidence in the city and country. Their hours of 
relaxation were few, and their devotion to business 
intense. The places of business were open at sunrise 
and never closed before nine o'clock p. m., and in the 
seasons of active business, the sound of the tackles 
might be heard to a much later hour. Nothing which 
could divert attention from business — not even a 
book, was permitted to be in use about the stores of 
some of the most vigilant of our early merchants. 

The first settlers were unostentatious in their man- 
ners and dress ; simple, frugal and regular in their 
mode of living. They were alive to the commercial 
interests of the village, and earnest in advancing its 
pros})erity. The navigation of the River was im- 
proved ; new roads were constructed, and encour- 
agement was extended to men of enterprise to settle 
here. A generous emulation without jealousy, pre- 
vailed among the business men. They supported 



16 

each other's credit, find readily united in measures 
calculated to promote the interest of the village. 
The immiorations I'rom the Eastern States durino- 
this decade, furnished the chief source of its increase. 
It is difficult now to obtain any accurate statement of 
the progressive increase of the poj^ulation during this 
period. A respectable lady remembers, that during 
the prevalence of the small pox in the year 1794, 
Dr. Gale and Dr. John Loudon ascertained that the 
number of inhabitants in the village, was between 
four and five hundred. At the close of the century^ 
it probably amounted to 1100 or 1200. At that time 
Albany contained about 6000, and Lansingburgh 
about 2000. But Troy, although its population was- 
small, had established a reputation which insured its 
future growth. The groves of oaks and pines, which 
covered a large part of its site at the beginning c)f 
the decade, had been mostly cleared away, and the 
orchards which had occupied a considerable space 
in the vicinity of the Van Derheyden farm houses, 
were reduced to a small number of trees. The 
stores were all on River-street, and the dwellings 
mostly on that and First-street, a few on Second- 
street, and still fewer thinly scattei'ed along Third, 
Hill and Division-streets. 

II. During the early part of the second decade, 
extending from 1800 to 1810, a new impulse was 
given to the village, by the removal to it from Lan- 
singburgh, of a number of the most active and sub- 
stantial business men. This accession of population, 
capital and enterprise, had an inspiriting influence 



17 

upon Troy, while the immigration from the Eastward, 
and more especially from Connecticut, continued to 
increase. The march of improvement was greatly 
accelerated. A considerable number of brick build- 
ings, both stores and dwellings, were erected. The 
flouring establishments were increased, and a large 
number of vessels were employed. 

In 1801, the Farmers Bank was organized, and 
became a very important auxiliary to the commerce 
of the village — although its first location, midway 
between Lansinoburoh and Ti'ov, was not a little 
inconvenient. Such a location could have no other 
oj'igin but the feelings of rivalry and jealousy, which 
existed between the two villages at that period. The 
increase of the population during the first five years 
of the second decade, was such as to render neces- 
sary the erection of more edifices for religious wor- 
ship. An Episcopal Church> of small dimensions of 
brick, was erected in 1804; some years subsequently 
it was enlarged, and is now known as St. John's 
Church. It is gratifying to add, that during the last 
season it has been surmounted by a spire of remark- 
ably fine proportions, which may justly be ranked 
among the best specimens of architecture in the city. 
In the year 1805, the Baptist Church in Third-street 
was erected, and was subsequently enlarged. The 
first Methodist house of worship in State-street, was 
erected in 1809, and the Friends meetino- house in 
Fourth-street, in the year 1810. In 180G the popula- 
tion of the village had swelled to nearly 3000. 

For a period of about seventeen years, the infant 



18 

\dllage had enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity. It 
was now in common with most commercial places 
in our country, to experience a severe reverse. 
Hitherto this young nation had, with but few inter- 
ruptions, carried on a most profitable foreign com- 
merce during the sanguinary wars, in which Europe 
had been engaged. At length the belligerent powers 
determined that neutral nations should no longer 
carry on the most legitimate neutral trade with their 
respective enemies. Our government, in order to 
preserve the property and protect the rights of the 
citizens, were compelled to adopt defensive and 
coercive, although peaceable measures. A general 
embargo on our shipping was laid in December, 1807, 
which was continued about eighteen months. During 
that period, the trade of Troy was nearly annihilated. 
Its streets, which in the seasons of business had been 
previously thronged with wagons and sleighs loaded 
with produce, now exhibited, almost constantly, the 
solemn stillness of the Sabbath. The vessels lay 
dismantled at the wharves, and a general palsy 
seemed to have seized on the business community. 
Trade forsook its natural and wonted channels, and 
much of the business which had usually been trans- 
acted at Troy, was transferred to Montreal and 
Quebec. In the spring of 1809, the embargo gave 
place to the non-intercourse, or more properly, the 
non-importation policy. This afforded considerable 
relief to our commercial towns. Although the British 
provinces still participated in the trade which natu- 
rally belonged to Troy, this modification of the 



19 

restrictive policy, greatly meliorated its condition. 
Troy slowly recovered from its torpor, and at the 
close of the period under review, had attained a 
population of nearly 4000. But the increase was 
chiefly during the first six years of the decade. 
During the continuance of the embargo, there was 
probably no increase. Just before the commence- 
ment of the restrictive system, the advance in the 
price of real estate had been such, as in a small 
degree to create an appetite for speculation in village 
lots. Previously, no such tendency had existed, and 
lots had generally been taken up or purchased only 
by persons who intended to improve them. But the 
embargo extinguished the fever of lot speculation, 
and for many subsequent years there was no recur- 
rence of the paroxism. 

III. At the commencement of the third decade, 
(extending from 1810 to 1820), the commercial 
difficulties still continued. The government had so 
far modified our restrictive regulations, as to offer to 
the belligerent powers, the alternative of commercial 
intercourse with the nation which should withdraw 
its offensive edicts. The sagacious Napoleon accept- 
ed the offered boon, and gave notice of the repeal 
of his Berlin and Milan decrees ; upon which our 
commercial intercourse with France was resumed in 
November, 1810. The activity of trade was consid- 
erably revived, and Troy participated in its benefits. 
In the year 1811 the Bank of Troy was established, 
which afforded increased facilities to our commerce. 

After the removal of the embargo, an indirect trade 



20 

with Encjland and her colonies was carried on to a 
large extent under the flags of other neutral powers, 
and by means of neutral ports and through the 
British provinces adjoining our territory. But the 
war declared against Great Britain in 1812, ]oro- 
duced 2;reat changes. The industry and enterprise 
of the country was forced into new channels, and 
developed new resources. Manufacturing establish- 
ments sprung up with great rapidity through the 
northern and middle states ; several important estab- 
lishments were made on the streams in this vicinity. 
Durino- the continuance of the war, the manufacto- 
ries yielded a large profit ; our internal commerce 
was greatly increased, and new sources of wealth 
seemed to open upon us. But the return of peace 
was a chilling blast to the hopes of the manufacturer. 
Vast importations of British goods were made, and a 
large commercial debt was created. In 1816 and 
1817, our manufacturing establishments were paral- 
ized, and for several years most of them remained 
prostrate. Amidst these vicissitudes the prosperity 
of Troy was sustained by the unflinching energy of 
its business men. In 18 IG its population, including 
the out wards, was nearly 5000 ; in that year it was 
incorporated as a city. The municipal organization 
had previously undergone several changes. The 
law which gave Troy a legal existence as a village, 
was passed in 1794. Limited powers were conferred 
upon the freeholders. The trustees were merely 
executive officers to see the ordinances passed by 
the inhabitants, carried into effect. The government 



21 

of the villaoc was, in trutli, a pure democracy. In 
1798 the village was incorporated, and limited powers 
conferred on five trustees chosen by the freeholders ; 
but to the legal voters, the power of levying taxes 
was still reserved. The powers of the trustees were 
enlarged in 1801, but the authority of levying taxes 
still remained in the legal voters. In 1805, the 
charter was revised. The villaoe w^as divided 
into four wards ; a trustee was chosen in each ward, 
and a president appointed by the Governor and 
Council of Appointment. The trustees were author- 
ized, in addition to their other powers, to raise by 
tax, 1500 dollars annually, to defray the expense of 
supporting a night watch, and lighting the streets, 
and the further sum of 1000 dollars to defray con- 
tingent exjienscs. The village charter enacted in 
1805, continued with but little alteration until it was 
superseded by the city organization. 

In 1820 the population was 5262, the increase in 
ten years having been but about 1300, the ratio of 

increase was much smaller than it had been durino- 

o 

the previous decade. The price of imimproved 
real estate from 1809 to 1819, was not so high as in 
the years 1806 and 1807. But although the j^opula- 
tion advanced in a diminished ratio, much was done 
during the third decade for the promotion of the 
future prosperity of Troy. The streets were gen- 
erally pitched and graded, and uniformity in the 
location of buildings, in reference to the line of the 
streets and alleys, was enforced. No town in the 
country at so early a period of its existence, had 



22 
succeeded better in enforcinor reoulations calculated 

O o 

to improve its appearance and promote cleanliness, 
health and comfort. Troy has so long enjoyed the 
comfort and benefits of having its streets well pitched 
and drained and graded, that we can now hardly 
appreciate the importance of the early regulations — 
which it required much energy in the police of an 
infant village to adopt and enforce, — and for which 
we are mainly indebted to the venerable Edward 
Tylee. who was the president of the village for 
several years after the adoption of the re^dsecl village 
charter of 1805. While these improvements w^ere 
in progress, Mr. Tylee's perseverance and energy in 
carrying them forward, rendered him somewhat 
mipopular ; but the city owe to him a lasting debt of 
gratitude. It will not be unsuitable in this connexion, 
to record the names of the several persons who, as 
presidents of the \'illage, or mayors of the city, have 
successively presided over our municipal institutions. 
Mr. Tylee was succeeded by Col. Anthony Ten 
Eyck, Col. Derick Lane, and Col. Albert Pawling 
— the last named gentleman was our first mayor — 
to whom succeeded successively, Mr. Esaias War- 
ren, Mr. Samuel M'Coun, Mr. George Tibbits, Mr. 
Richard P. Hart, and the present mayor, Mr. Jonas 
C. Heartt. It is jDroper to remark, that all those 
gentlemen had been merchants, and actively engaged 
in promoting the prosperity of Troy, and all of them 
were distinguished for integrity and j)ractical good 
sense. 

IV. The fourth decade was marked by deeply 



23 

important events to Troy. On the 20th Jane, 1820, 
a fire broke out in a shed on the alley in rear of 
First-street, which in a few hours consumed the 
wealthiest and most important section of the city ; 
not only buildings, but goods and other personal 
property to a vast amount, were destroyed. The 
fire swept away all the Imildings on the west side of 
First-street, from the third door north of Congress- 
street, to its junction with River-street, except the 
Bank of Troy. Also all the buildings on both sides 
of River-street, from a point about one hundred feet 
north of Congress-street, to the store of Larned & 
Corning, No. 227 River-street, opposite the Troy 
House. The shock was astounding, and for a few 
days despondency was visible on the countenances 
of our citizens. But their wonted energy soon rallied. 
In a few weeks the foundations of numerous build- 
ings were laid, and before the close of the folio win o- 
season the desolations were repaired, and Troy rose 
from its ashes, beautified in its appearace, invigorated 
in its enterprise, and the value of its projierty 
increased. The city was soon to be called to test 
the effect upon its interest of the change in transpor- 
tation, which the completion of the navigable com- 
munication between the Lakes and the Atlantic 
ocean would produce. Some of our citizens feared, 
lest the trade of the north and west would thence- 
forth avoid its accustomed markets and be wafted 
past Troy to the great commercial emporium. Those 
who had more thoroughly considered the subject, felt 



24 

no such apprehension. One especially,* whose ven- 
erable form still cheers us with his presence, and 
whose luminous mind yet sheds its mellowed rays 
among us, who had long applied his sagacious powers 
to the developement of plans for the accomplishment 
of the great enterprise, steadily predicted, that the 
completion of the canals would not fail to make 
Troy more prosperous. I cannot omit this occasion, 
of expressing the firm conviction, that posterity will 
acknowledge as deej) a debt of gratitude to our dis- 
tinguished fellow citizen, as to any one individual 
who was engaged in accomj)lishing the splendid 
enterprise of connecting by navigable communica- 
tions, the Atlantic ocean and the Lakes, for his 
well digested financial measures, which insured the 
early and economical construction of those great 
public works. In 1823, the connexion between the 
Lakes and the Hudson was completed, the effect of 
which, on all the relations of business at the termina- 
ting points of the canals, was electric. Hitherto, 
Troy had advanced with moderate steps. Its pro- 
gress was now greatly accelerated. Its population in 
five years, from 1820 to 1825, swelled from 5262 to 
7859, making an increase of 2597. In the five follow- 
in o- years, the population arose to 11,556 ; making the 
increase of the whole period, from 1820 to 1830, about 
120 per cent. Although this ratio of increase did not 
equal that of Utica, Rochester and Bufflilo during 
the same period, it exceeded that of any other town 
in the state. The increase of its business and wealth, 

* George Tibbits, Esq. 



25 

was greater than that of its population. Tlic com- 
pletion of the great channels of" internal communica- 
tion, produced a striking change in the methods of 
transactinof business. Our oreat business street was 
deserted by the throngs of sleighs and wagons, and 
the bustle of business transferred to the wharves. 
Strangers passing through the street, wondered at 
the quiet which appeared in front of the spacious 
warehouses, Dui'ing the period now under consid- 
eration, the wharves and other accommodations for 
heavy business operations, were greatly extended ; 
the general appearance of the city was much improv- 
ed by the erection of a great number of tasteful and 
substantial private buildings, while the improvement 
in the structure and appearance of the public edifices 
erected during this period, was still more striking. 
The churches and other public edifices built previous- 
ly to 1820, had been erected at a cheap rate, and 
exhibited but little taste in their construction. Near 
the close of the decade, St. Paul's church was erected 
of durable materials, and in an appropriate style of 
architecture. During the same period, the Second 
Presbyterian church was erected, and the fh-st 
Methodist church re-constructed in a neat and sub- 
stantial manner. During the closing year of this 
period, (1829), the buildings were numbered, and 
the first city directory published. 

V. The accumulation of wealth, the increase of 
population, and the })rogress of improvement, which 
had been so considerable during the fourth decade, 
were still more remarkable during the earlier years 



26 

of that which has been recently comj^leted. A new 
court house, two beautiful Presbyterian churches, 
the Universalist church and a second Methodist 
church, and two elegant banking houses, were erected 
in a style creditable to the taste of the city. Our 
public grounds were inclosed with beautiful and 
substantial iron fences, and every part of the city 
drained by capacious sewers ; while its health, and 
comfort, and safety, were greatly promoted by the 
construction of its aqueduct — which will long remain 
an additional monument of the sagacity and perse- 
verance of the distinguished citizen, who presided 
over the councils of the city while that great work 
was being executed. In addition to the improve- 
ments which have been mentioned, we should not 
omit to notice that during the last year, the founda- 
tions were laid of two spacious market houses, now 
nearly completed, which are constructed of durable 
materials upon a plan which combines public accom- 
modation with neatness and good taste. During the 
period now under review, the commercial world has 
jjassed through unparalleled vicissitudes, vibrating 
between excessive prosperity and ruinous depression. 
During the first six years, the flood gates of wealth 
seemed to be widely opened. Manufacturing and 
commercial enterprise had acquired an accelerated 
impulse. The products of the soil and of the forest, 
of the loom and the forge, of the workshop and the 
ocean, found ready and profitable markets. Our 
foreign commerce spread its sails to every wind, and 
penetrated every sea. Our cities along the seaboard 



27 

were scenes of bustling activity, and the prairies and 
forests of the vast West, teemed with adventurous 
immigrants. Raih'oads were projected, and con- 
structed with surprising ra})idity. The surplus capi- 
tal of Europe seemed to be at our disposal, to carry 
into execution the most magnificent and stupendous 
schemes of improvement. The unlimited credit of 
our merchants enabled them to supply the raj^idly 
increasing demands for merchandize of every sort. 
Banking institutions and joint stock associations mul- 
tiplied in endless variety. Vast investments were 
made or projected for exploring the depths of the 
ocean in quest of spei-ui and whale, and for ransack- 
ing the bowels of the earth in search of the precious 
metals. Our city could not be unaffected during 
such a period. In five years its population rose to 
16,959, making an increase of 5403, between 1830 
and 1835. The progress of improvement outstripped 
even that of its increase of population. IMany build- 
ings of large dimensions and of great elegance were 
erected. Numerous plans for expensive imjDrove- 
ments were projected, and not a few of them execut- 
ed. Hitherto, the citizens of Troy, following the 
footsteps of those who laid the foundation of its 
prosperity, had, to a great degree, escaped the malady 
of rioting in imaginary wealth, and had been wisely 
content with a gradual increase, the fruits of indus- 
try and economy. At a period when visionary 
schemes had deluded multitudes in other places to 
embark in rash and ruinous speculations, the citizens 
of Troy escaped the delusion, and as our city had 



28 

nearly been exempt from the ravages of Asiatic 
cholera, although within the line of its desolating 
march, so did the recent epidemic of speculation but 
lightly scathe us. This exemption is more worthy oi 
our notice, when we consider that the contagion is so 
subtle, that it often seizes the strong man and binds 
him in chains, selecting for its victims the intelligent 
and the shrewd, as well as the weak and the credu- 
lous. When the golden dream fastens on the imagi- 
nation, the powers of the understanding, whatever 
may be their native strength, are inadequate to 
break up the delusion until the paroxism has run its 
course. This extraordinary delusion has happily 
left but few marks of its ravaaes amons: our sober 
population. If any of our citizens were inclined for 
a season to embark in visionary schemes, the revul- 
sions of 1837 and 1839, have doubtless convinced 
them that it is not wise to make haste to be rich. 

The onward progress of the city has indeed been 
checked by the commercial tornadoes which have 
been sweeping the land, and a heavy hand has for a 
while been laid upon our plans of public im2:)rove- 
ment. But we may gather some useful lessons from 
these reverses. They may lead us to estimate more 
highly the maxims of prudence which influenced 
the early settlers of Troy, in their pursuit of wealth 
and their schemes of improvement. They may also 
induce the rising generation of business men among 
us, to act more thoi-oughly in accordance with that 
safe and sound maxim in political economy, that 
industry and economy are the only reliable sources 



29 

of wealth for cities or individuals. The credit of the 
mercantile community has been severely tried, and 
its capital has been sifted by the recent revulsions. 
But the gloom which has overspread the commercial 
world will be dissipated, and trade will return to its 
wonted channels. The ability of Troy to sustain the 
recurrence of the severest commercial revulsions, 
has been tested. The advantao:es of her local situa- 
tion, improved as they will l)e by the sagacity, energy 
and perseverance of her business men, will insure 
her onward progress and prosperity. It is true that 
she must persevere in that course of untiring vigilance 
and activity in which her prosperity was cradled ; 
for she has still to run the race with powerful comj)e- 
titors, and much remains to be done to preserve her 
relative advantages. The advance of improvements 
all around, renders it necessary to direct our efforts 
and apply our resources to some objects which our 
relative position have made indispensable. Railroad 
communications with the West and the East, which 
shall keep pace with those now in progress for con- 
nectino- neioliborino- places with the Atlantic and the 
Lakes, cannot longer be delayed without the loss of 
our rejuitation for enterprise, and without hazarding 
our relative standing and prosperity. 

Our citizens are too sagacious not to see their 
position ; and I feel confident they will promptly jiut 
in operation the measures which will insure the 
execution of the requisite improvements. To effect 
these objects, the main reliance must be upon our 
own resources and our own eneroies. These have 



30 

always been the chief rehance of the citizens of 
Troy. Its growth has not been so rapid as some of 
its sister cities in the w^est, but its progress has been 
steady and healthful. At the close of fifty years 
from its origin, it contains a population of nearly 
twenty thousand ; has fifteen edifices for religious 
worshiji, employs a dozen large flouring mills, pos- 
sesses numerous manufacturing establishments, has a 
banking capital amounting to a million and a half of 
dollars, employs more than a hundred vessels, and 
two steam towing boat lines in its transportation 
business on the Hudson,* and possesses an amount 
of active commercial capital, which, in the hands of 
its enterprising business men, is sufficient to enable 
them to sustain the hioh commercial character of 
Troy. [F?V/e note p. 36.] 

In reviewing the jirogress and actual state of our 
city, we are constrained to admit, that some deeply 
important interests have been, if not entirely ne- 
glected, yet thrown far in the back ground. The 
efforts hitherto made for the promotion of education, 
and the cultivation of science, literature and the fine 
arts, have been very inadequate. The early settlers 
of Troy were too much occu]^)ied in lousiness pursuits, 
and two intently engaged in competition with formi- 
dable rivals, to allow them leisure to attend to con- 
cerns which seemed less pressing. The schools in 
the early days of Troy, were generally feebly support- 

* The first transportation lino of sloops was established by Messrs. Pattison & 
Hart, in the year in which the canals were opened to the Hudson ; and in the follow- 
ing season (1824) a line of towing boats, with steam power, was established by 
the same firm. 



31 

ed, and the teachers ill qualified to instruct. Whilst 
the citizens engaged earnestly in enterprises calcu- 
lated to advance the business interest of the villao;e, 
the important concerns of education were strangely 
unheeded. And even when Troy had outstripped 
Lansingburgh in population, wealth and commercial 
importance, the latter remained much in advance in 
respect to the concerns of education, science and 
literature. And even now the public institutions of 
education in that village, are placed on a footing of 
greater permanency than those in our city. It has 
long been a subject of reproach, that we had scarcely 
a public institution of a literary character, worthy to 
be pointed out to a stranger visiting our city. The 
Female Seminary shoidd be excepted from the re- 
mark. Under the persevering efforts of its enterpris- 
ing founder, it long since attained a high character, 
which I am sure it will not lose under the manaoement 

o 

of its present accomplished principal. The govern- 
ment of the city have been amply rewarded for the 
fostering care and patronage which they have be- 
stowed on this institution. The Rensselaer Institute 
has long been favorably known, and its merits appreci- 
ated throughout our country, and has not been unno- 
ticed in Europe. But the credit of sustaining that 
institution, belongs exclusively to its late benevolent 
patron ; and I regret that we are not at liberty to con- 
sider it permanently located among us. The opportu- 
nity which was presented a few years since of securing 
the establishment of an important college here, was 
lost, I believe, because the citizens of Troy did not 



32 

give to tlie subject the full consideration which its 
importance demanded. Within the last three years, 
considerable improvement in our public common 
schools has been made, and two durable and conve- 
nient edifices for their accommodation have been 
erected. The want of institutions properly endowed 
and furnished with suitable accommodations for the 
instruction of boys, in the higher branches of science 
and classical learning, has in years past compelled 
our citizens to send their sons abroad or place them 
in schools conducted by individuals, which, for want 
of proper support, are often fluctuating. Recently, 
the Episcopal Institute having been incorporated and 
placed under a highly respectable board of trustees, 
is acquiring reputation as a classical institution. The 
Troy Academy, too, it is hoped, will, under the 
impulse which has recently been given to it, grow in 
favor with our citizens, and deserve and receive a 
more extended patronage. But w^e must not indulge 
the dream, that any seminary of education w^ill 
acquire a reputation creditable to the city, until liber- 
ally endowed and furnished, and provided with 
accommodations, tasteful, and ample for the recep- 
tion of numerous pupils. In some other respects we 
are still more deficient than in regard to institutions 
of education. 

Let me ask, my fellow citizens, where are our 
public libraries ? The Troy library is indeed vener- 
able in years. Its foundation was laid by some of 
our earlier settlers ; but it existed for many years 
almost unknown and unread, and but for the kind- 



33 

ness of your Association in giving it a resting place in 
your rooms, it could hardly have found a, shelter in 
its desolation. When I listened, two years since, to 
the appeal made by the president of your Associa- 
tion, in the introductory lecture for the season, I felt 
persuaded that the reproach of having not one 
respectable collection of books in the city, would 
soon be wiped away. No enterprise, gentlemen, I 
am sure, demands from you more untiring eflbrts, 
than that of establishinor an extensive and well chosen 
library ; such a library as you would feel gratified to 
exhibit to literary strangers. It seems to be left to 
you, gentlemen, to devise the means by which this 
community shall be moved in this enterprise. The 
formation of such a library, would not only be very 
important in its direct purposes, but could not lail 
to lead to the founding of other affiliated institutions 
for promoting the cause of science, literature, and 
the arts ; the combined influence of which woidd 
open to the citizens new sources of enjoyment and 
usefulness, and greatly elevate the character of the 
city. It has been well remarked by an eminent 
jurist, that "the sciences are of a sociable dis})osition, 
and flourish best in the neighborhood of each other;" 
a remark equally applicable to the institutions for 
the promotion of learning and the arts. Hitherto 
the literary institutions in the venerable neighboring 
city, have thrown our own far in the shade. Her 
academy edifice, although erected many years since, 
and when the population and wealth of Albany was 
much less than Troy now possesses, has long been ad- 



34 

mired for the durability of its structure, and the chaste- 
ness and elegance of its architectural design ; and the 
literary institution within its walls stands deservedly 
high in the comparison with the seminaries of our 
country. The Albany city library has, for half a 
century, been fostered by her eminent citizens and 
attained great respectability. The Female Academy 
is a monument of the munificence of its founders, and 
has long been the pride of the citizens. A liberal 
support has been extended to her Museum, her 
Atheneum and her Institute, and more recently to 
her Medical College. The munificent patronage 
extended to these and her other literary and scientific 
institutions, demands our admiration, and may I not 
add, invites our generous emulation? The acquisitions 
of commerce and manufactures, when employed 
in promoting the sciences and the arts, bring to their 
patrons the most desirable distinction. In modern 
cities, the hio-hest achievements in the useful and 
ornamental arts have been made under commercial 
patronage. Even in the middle ages, the finest speci- 
mens of architecture, the best models of painting and 
sculpture, and the most splendid collections of 
books, were called into existence by the commercial 
communities of Venice, Bilboa, Naples and Florence. 
At this moment both in Europe and our own country, 
the architect, the painter, the statuary and the author, 
must seek his principal patronage in commercial 
communities. It is time that our city should take 
some decisive steps in rearing institutions calculated 
to improve the intellect, cultivate the taste, and afford 



I 



35 

occupation and enjoyment to the minds of those who 
now inhabit the city, and of those who shall come 
after us. The beauty and elegance of our streets 
and dwellings, excite the attention of strangers. Let 
its citizens combine their energy, and make it a 
repository of those intellectual treasures which will 
render it attractive to the scholar and the admirers 
of the arts, and which will furnish to its inhabitants 
the facilities for cultivating their minds, improvinor 
their taste, increasing their rational sources of enjoy- 
ment, and enlarging their sphere of usefulness. 



STATISTICAL SUMMARY. 

The following Statistical Summary of the Commercial and Manvfac* 
turing EstablishmcntSf is condensed from the statements of th( 
Assistant Marslial for taking the Census. 



I. COMMERCIAL. 

Mercantile houses engaged in foreign trade, ) 

Commission houses, j 

Retail Stores, 

Lumber yards and establishments, 

Internal transportation, 

II. MANUFACTURES. 

Cast iron, 1 

Bar iron, j 

Cotton, including dying and printing establishments,* 

Wool — Woolen Factory and three Fulling Mills, 

Leather — Tanneries, 1 

Other leather factories & factories of articles of leather, . j 

Paper, 

Mixed manufactories, 

Machinery, 1 

Hardware, Cutlery, Gunnery, &c., 

Manufactures of articles made of the precious metals and y 

metalic substances, | 

Bricks and Lime, j 

Musical instruments, 

Hats, Caps, Bonnets, &c., 

Soap and Caudles, 

Distilled and fermented Liquors, 

Printing and Binding, 

Coaches and other Carriages and Wagons, 

Cordage, (Factory located West Troy), 

Mills— 13 Grist mills and 2 Sawmills, 

Vessels, ) 

Furniture, | 

All other manufactories not before enumerated, 



2,674,621 

645,013 

206,000 

1,161,100 



279,000 

352,200 
50,000 
91,000 
99,550 

88.000 
25,3001 



253,200 
30,000 

220,050 



80.000 
30,500 
17,000 
933,5001 138 
99,200 80 



18 
1,159 



64 



6,000 
40,700 
19.000 

110,11(10 
23,200 

170,S50| 
40,000! 

374,000jl 

45,000 
218,135 



80.000 
,171,266 
109,000 

79,000 
411,500, 



17,400 18 

10,0001 10 

117.-393 154 

18 



131 

40 
59 

73 



* N. B. This seems, from the Marshal's statement, to include several Cotton Factories 
situate out of the city, but owned principally in Troy. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 221 1117 



^.-m!--^ 






'■n-^:- 







